BY BARNABAS MANEBONA
YANDINA community at Russell Islands in Central Islands Province (CIP) are reported to ‘lose trust’ in officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF).
This is because of the way ‘justice and crime cases’ are addressed and attended to recently in the islands according to CIP’s Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Superintendent David Soakai, who assures that ‘a current task’ is to rebuild community trust.
PPC Soakai said they had learnt of this situation during the RSIPF Police Commissioner’s first provincial visit to CIP’s Tulaghi and Yandina Police Stations early this month after the lifting of the ‘State of Public Emergency’ and it is a great concern for them.
“Following the recent trip with the Police Commissioner Mostyn Mangau to Russell Islands and learning of this issue of losing confidence, we assure you we will build from there and look from there now on for improvements,” said Soakai.
“The Court Circuit to be held at Yandina was also cancelled as these are the type of situations contributing towards such hiccups.
“So justice must be rolled. People committing crimes must face justice. Finding a way out of this situation is what my team is currently working on and will move forward from there.”
On the other hand, PPC Soakai said he welcomes such challenges as well to regain back the trust of the community.
“Criticisms from the public is good so that it helps me and my team in our work to know more how to deal with people and situations within the society,” said Soakai.
It is understood that during the Police Commissioner’s visit to Yandina, the Chairman of the Banika House of Chief Mr John Tenten also shared with Mr Mostyn Mangau that Yandina Police were unable to discharge their duties due to ‘no vehicle’.
Mr Tenten said terms of sea mobility are okay, police officers still do their duties by boat travelling to other parts of Russell Islands, but land mobility has become the concern for Yandina officers to carry out their work.
The Chairman further explained that Yandina and other parts of Banika are diverse. So to do policing there is not that easy when dealing with people who come from different ethnic groups as well, which demand quick police response in terms of using vehicles.
